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South upset by warnings of tsunami
Psychic's claims spook locals, hurt bookings
The government is working to dispel rumours sparked by a fortune teller that Andaman coastal provinces will be hit by a tsunami on Thursday.
Anchalee Vanich, the prime minister's deputy secretary-general and a resident of Phuket, said a vigorous campaign was under way to reassure residents and tourists along the Andaman coast.
Residents are frightened after a fortune teller predicted a tsunami would hit the region on Dec 30.
Some tourists are reported to have cancelled their hotel bookings.
Ms Anchalee insisted yesterday that early warning systems and contingency plans were in place and people could visit the provinces with confidence.
Kruawan Jankaew, a geologist with Chulalongkorn University's faculty of science, said there was very little chance of a tsunami in the near future since there have been no warning signs.
Phuwieng Prakhammintara, director of the Meteorological Department's earthquake and tsunami research and development division, said that while no one could predict the precise timing of an earthquake, the department had improved its monitoring systems and disaster response strategies.
A remembrance ceremony was held yesterday in Phuket to mark the sixth anniversary of the tsunami that killed thousands in Thailand and almost 230,000 people around the Indian Ocean on Dec 26, 2004.
Phuket governor Tri Akkhradecha said activities to mark the event were intentionally low-key.
Religious rites, including alms-offering to monks, were held in Patong municipality, Laem Phet monastery, the offices of the Choeng Talay tambon administration organisation and at the Mai Khao cemetery.
The tambon Kamala administration organisation collaborated with the Japan-Phuket association to hold a remembrance ceremony.
Mr Tri added his voice to those urging people not to panic over the fortune teller's prediction, as he said the province had disaster preparedness strategies, warning systems and evacuation plans in place.
Paiboon Upattisaring, chief of the Phuket provincial administration organisation, said the Patong municipality held a Light Up Phuket ceremony on Patong Beach yesterday.
Residents and tourists lighted candles and placed them in the sand on the beach in memory of the victims of the 2004 catastrophe.
In Ranong, the Andaman Coastal Research Station for Development of Kasetsart University staged a ceremony at Ban Thapnuea on Prapas Beach in Suk Samran district. More than 30,000 sea bass and 30,000 Babylon shells were released into the sea off Prapas Beach as part of the event.
Eighty-nine people, including 10 university staff members, were killed when the 2004 tsunami hit Prapas Beach.
* Published: 27/12/2010 at 12:00 AM
* Newspaper section: News BKK-Post